by Little Roman

Created on: July 25, 2007

It's about listening to a storyteller giving their words that hit your heart in folk music. Bob Dylan admired Woody Guthrie, he called him his hero, and he was his mentor. These are powerful words to say about another folk singer. Woody Guthrie has been influential to other singers such as Jack Elliot, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen. There were so many reasons why Guthrie was appreciated; the man could paint a story with his music. Some of his songs were about the struggle of the working class, the beauty of this country's land and children songs. Guthrie was an activist with a voice for the labor union to help the migrant workers. In the 1980's, artists of folk, pop and rock did benefit concerts called Farm Aid, to help the America Farmers; this shows how Guthrie's influenced social awareness in helping others.

Bob Dylan continues to follow his mentor ways in helping others. Dylan songs in the earlier sixties such as "The Time They Are a Changin'" and "Blowin' in the Wind" These songs were against the Vietnam War and supported the civil rights movement. In 1963, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez both sang at the March on Washington, both singers felt strongly for civil rights in this country. Many artists from pop, rock and country have been influence in the last five decade by Bob Dylan music. In the 90's Dylan toured concerts with Santana briefly and Paul Simon. He has received many music awards and has been inducted to Rock and Roll Hall Of Frame. Also in 2004, Bob Dylan was one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

Finally, Joan Baez. Her most popular song was "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" which was a top ten hit in the U.S. Several of her other songs were about social issue. Joan had seen poverty as a child. Her father's job had the family traveling through out the world. She once was deeply moved by the horrible things in the streets of Baghdad. She witness people being beaten to death and people begging. She later wrote about incident, that all the affliction of the people became a part of her. She was a woman who first heard a young Martin Luther King back in 1956, Joan was heartfelt about Dr. King's speech about civil rights and nonviolence. She became friends with Dr. King some years later. Together, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan played a strong activist role for the civil rights movement, non-violence and human rights in the sixties. Guthrie, Dylan and Baez are the most influential folk music artists, beside their music they have influenced other artist to get involved in social awareness. Today it's an environment issue, it's about saving the plant.

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